RISING NIGERIAN STAR PLAYER OMIDIJI SIGNS WITH TEMPLE MANAGEMENT

Budding talent and u-20 Nigerian player, Omotola Sophia Omidiji has signed a deal that allowing her to be managed by Temple Management Company (TMC). In a press conference organised immediately after she penned the deal, a clearly euphoric Sophia enthused that, "I am pleased to be managed by a reputable organisation like Temple Management Company whom I have heard so many positive things about." Sophia continued by expressing her hope to realise "my Nigerian dream" and inspire the next generation of young Nigerians.

Mr Koye Sowemimo, Head of Sports, TMC, added during the press conference that, "We are delighted to have Sophia on board. She is a player of exceptional ability and we look forward to managing her on the pitch and off it."  “Last year, she missed out on the FIFA U20s World Cup in spite of being one of the best performers in the build-up. But now, she’s totally focused on proving herself worthy of a call-up to the Super Falcons, by performing for her current club, Excelsior in Holland.” He concluded.

Sophia is a 20-year-old striker who currently plays for SBV Excelsior having joined from KAA Gent for whom she scored 15  goals in 20 league games.

MESSI IS INCOMPARABLE

Hellas Verona star Juan Iturbe has dismissed comparisons with Lionel Messi after joining the club on a 12-month loan deal from Porto.

The 20-year-old's diminutive stature and running style are reminiscent of the Barcelona forward, though he has been quick to distance himself from any likeness with his compatriot.

"Messi is unattainable, you can not make comparisons," Iturbe told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"But my idol is Maradona. He may have been from an older generation but he is a legend and will always be my God."

Iturbe also says he is keen to prove he can make the grade in Europe having struggled to make an impact at Porto since joining the club from Cerro Porteno in 2010.

The forward joined River Plate on a six-month loan in December last year in a bid for regular first team football but has again been allowed to leave the club on a temporary 12-month this summer.

"I have always dreamed of playing in Serie A and I have arrived at a big club," he added.

"Ezequiel Cirigliano advised me to join him at Verona and we have players who want to win and a coach capable of making it happen.

"I am looking forward to playing from the left or right of the attack and I cannot wait to play with Luca Toni - he is a real champion."

MADRID ARE NOT BIGGER THAN JUVENTUS

Juventus legend Marco Tardelli believes the Serie A champions are on a par with Real Madrid and feels only Barcelona are superior to the Bianconeri.

The Turin giants made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League last term, where they were beaten by eventual winners Bayern Munich, and Tardelli is confident that Juve can do even better in 2013-14.

"I don't think Juventus are inferior to Real Madrid," the Republic of Ireland assistant coach was quoted as saying by Tuttosport.

"Only Barcelona have more quality in my opinion and even they are not too far ahead. I don't think Bayern are stronger than Juve."

The 58-year-old then went on to discuss the arrival of Carlos Tevez and Angelo Ogbonna and believes Juventus have invested well this summer.

"I think Juventus have made some good signings. Tevez is a high-profile purchase. I have already seen Mirko Vucinic improve alongside him.

"And the signing of Ogbonna is a good deal, too. He's a player I have always liked."

Juventus currently sit joint first in Serie A with six points from two games.

SAKHO DOESN'T REGRET LIVERPOOL TRANSFER

New Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho says he has no regrets about leaving Paris Saint-Germain and insists he was not forced out of the club.

The 23-year-old, who has been capped 14 times for France, completed the move to the Anfield club on transfer deadline day for a reported fee of €17.2 million.

Reports surfaced suggesting the France international had been forced out of PSG following the arrival of Brazilian defender Marquinhos earlier in the summer, but Sakho refutes those claims.

"I achieved beautiful things at Paris that I am very proud of, so I can leave raising my head high," Sakho told L'Equipe.

"Since the start of my career, my first desire has been to go on improving and reach the objectives I set.

"My career dictated me that choice. I move on without regret. Today I am joining a great club with fantastic fans. I am very proud to have signed at Liverpool.

"Early in the summer I had a talk with my PSG coach and chairman. Some things were said but not necessarily with any result. But there is no problem and I feel not bitterness. It was my choice to leave. No one pushed me to the exit door.

"Contrary to what I could hear, I don't fear competition. At Liverpool, do you believe there will be no competition in my position?"

The France international paid tribute to the supporters after he watched from the stands as Liverpool beat Manchester United and revealed it was the exciting project that convinced him to make the move to England.

"Why Liverpool? Because the Premier League is the best league in the world, and it was the club that offered me the project that suited me the best," Sakho added. "The officials knew how to convince me.

"My first feelings in the Anfield stands? I had confirmation I made the right choice. They are amazing fans and a very good team. The fans' chants are beautiful even if I can't understand English so far.

"Compare Parc des Princes and Anfield? You can't compare. Le Parc is my cradle."

INTER TRANSFER BUSINESS ON TRACK

The Nerazzurri boss feels the Serie A side are on the right track to build a new team for the future after signing several young players during the transfer window

Inter president Massimo Moratti has defended the Nerazzurri's transfer dealings this summer and backed his side's policy of focusing on bringing in young talent.

The Giuseppe Meazza side signed the likes of Mauro Icardi, Ishak Belfodil and Saphir Taider prior to the close of the transfer window and Moratti is confident they are on the right track to build a successful side in the future - especially with new coach Walter Mazzarri at the helm.

"We are looking to the present as well as the future. That was our aim in the transfer market," Moratti told Inter Channel.

"Players who, though young, are already clearly talented and with the potential to grow even further. And I think we got it right.

"But when you decide to adopt a policy like that you also need a coach who agrees with it, and, more importantly, knows how to make the most out of it."

Inter have started the 2013-14 campaign with two wins from as many Serie A games and sit joint first in the league table.

OZIL IS A GRENADE

Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has described Mesut Ozil as "a grenade" following his explosive deadline day move to Arsenal.

Ozil completed his sensational €50 million switch from Real Madrid just hours before the transfer window slammed shut, making him the most expensive German ever.

And while Klopp believes it was an incredible transfer, he cannot understand how Premier League clubs spent more than €600m on new players this summer.

"The transfer of Ozil is incredible," Klopp told Bild. "That doesn't happen often, €50m on the last day.

"Mesut is a grenade. Nobody knows why he was sold, maybe Real needed money.

"But it's insane what happens in England. 80 per cent of the players, for whom the clubs spent €700m, I don't even know."

Klopp also described Gareth Bale's world-record transfer from Tottenham to Real Madrid as "crazy", but admits if a club want to sign a player the price is irrelevant.

"It doesn't matter how much a player costs," he added. "The question is if you really want him and finally if you can pay. The amounts are crazy, but they are staying in the circle of football.

"Perez wanted Bale for any price and now he has paid €100m - maybe sometimes he doesn't even know in the mornings what he will do with his money in the evening."

MOSES WILL BE GIVEN TIME TO PROVE FITNESS AHEAD OF MALAWI CLASH

Victor Moses is yet to play this season and it showed in training as he was asked to do some extra running when his team mates were warming down at the Super Eagles Thursday evening training at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

After three matches in the English Premier League without appearing for Chelsea, the Nigerian has gone on a season-long loan move to Liverpool and will hope to become a regular feature at Merseyside.

The striker arrived at the Metropolitan Hotel camp of the Super Eagles late on Wednesday night after completing his move to Liverpool on Monday.

Moses has been a standout player for the Super Eagles this year and showed his immense talents once again on August 15 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge in which he came on in the second half and literally transformed the match. The Eagles scored their two goals in that second half.

The Europa League winner with Chelsea is expected to be given a starting berth on Saturday as the Eagles need just a draw to qualify for the last round of qualifiers.